J-Lo Says Adios to Idol

Jennifer Lopez followed Steven
Tyler's lead off "American Idol" on Friday confirming that she will not be back for a third season of the cult following talent show.

And now there is one...again.That means the "Idol"
panel is down to one, original judge Randy Jackson, and there are
reports that he may take a different role when the Fox show returns next
January.

Lopez broke the news to "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest on his radio show.

"I
really was dreading this phone call with you," she told him. "I
honestly feel like the time has come that I have to get back to doing
the other things that I do that I've put kind of on hold because I love
'Idol' so much."

When it returns for
its 12th season next January, "Idol" will have to be a reengineered
version of the once-powerhouse series that turned hopefuls such as
Jennifer Hudson into stars and gave network rivals fits.

Speculation
about potential new panelists has focused on Mariah Carey, with former
"Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert getting a shout-out from his fans. Much is
at stake for the show and for its judges: Lopez's contract reportedly
was worth $12 million and the stint proved a career-booster for her.

Fox spokespersons and Randy Jackson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson

Tyler
started the exodus with his announcement Thursday that he was putting
rock 'n' roll ahead of the show that he said had been "over-the-top
fun."

"I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I'm back — but
instead of begging on my hands and knees, I got two fists in the air
and I'm kicking the door open with my band," Tyler said in a statement.
Aerosmith is on a nationwide tour with Tyler and has an album due out in
the fall.

In a phone interview Thursday with The Associated Press
as the news about Tyler broke, Lopez had said she was saddened to hear
that Tyler was leaving and that his departure would play a role in her
decision.

"I can't even imagine anyone else there right now
because I've just spent two years sitting next to him," she said. "I
love Steven, and we became close during that time. We were a great
support for each other, on an adventure that neither one of us knew what
it was going to be. So it's hard to hear that he won't be doing it."

Seacrest, the other original cast member, will
provide a stable center. He signed a two-year contract with "American
Idol" producers this spring to continue as host.

The Fox series,
which began with Jackson, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul as judges, has
made changes on the panel over the years. Ellen DeGeneres joined one
season, and songwriter Kara DioGuardi was added as a fourth judge to
work with Jackson, Cowell and Abdul.